Letters

Letters

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Statistics should be value-neutral

I have just read Tony Travers' excellent opinion piece (Their days are numbered', March 13-19). I agree that those of us who believe in 'good, politically neutral statistics' should support Karen Dunnell, the head of the Office for National Statistics.

Without accurate and timely statistics none of us can form a proper view of how public bodies at national and local level are performing - and the ability to do this will be even more important in the difficult times ahead.

Part of CIPFAs reputation depends on the quality of its published statistics and I hope that the institute will support Karen Dunnell's stance in seeking to produce accurate, timely and politically neutral statistics.

RITA HALE

London

Incisive input on migrant workers

Martin Thomas' analysis of the migrant worker problem was incisive and his proposal to stop benefit payments for reluctant UK workers was great common sense (Letters, March 6-12).

But his comment about the need for action to follow the government's rhetoric is flawed. When did any government, particularly this one, possess common sense?

MIKE PRESTON

Wimborne, Dorset

Standard waste of resources

It is a bit ironic for Steve Bundred of the Audit Commission to be warning us to prepare for cuts in public spending (News, page 9, March 13-19). …